Samsung unveils Gear S2 smart watch

Samsung is spicing up its smart watch with a circular face and more battery life than the Apple Watch, but it’s unknown how many apps will be available for it.

The limited selection of apps is one of the main challenges facing Samsung’s smart watches. They have been around for longer than the Apple Watch, but haven’t generated as much interest or sales.

Samsung’s newest, the Gear S2, faces competition not just from Apple, but also from a variety of manufacturers using Google’s Android Wear software. According to IDC, Samsung was the No. 2 maker of wearable devices in the April-June quarter, with 3.3 per cent market share.

So far, outside app developers have focused their efforts instead on the Apple Watch and Android Wear watches. Samsung’s watches use their own operating system, Tizen, which means extra work adapting apps for them.

Samsung promised a variety of apps designed for the new watch’s circular face, but it didn’t provide details. The company said demos of the new apps will come on Thursday at the IFA tech show in Berlin.

The Korean electronics company is yet to announce a price or release date for the Gear S2.

CIRCULAR FACE : The S2 is the first Samsung smart watch with a circular design, and the company says the watch’s frame will rotate to help users access apps and notifications. It’s not a new shape for smart watches; Motorola and LG make circular frames, too.

PHONE REQUIREMENT : Apple Watch requires an iPhone, and the S2 will likely require an Android device from Samsung. Some models will have 3G cellular capabilities that let them do more without the phone nearby.

BATTERY LIFE :The Gear S2 promises two to three days of battery life, compared with Apple Watch’s 18 hours.